Acute low frequency dorsal subthalamic nucleus stimulation improves verbal fluency in Parkinson's disease

AbstractBackground Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that results in movement-related dysfunction and has variable cognitive impairment. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the dorsal subthalamic nucleus (STN) been shown to be effective improving motor symptoms; however, impairment often unchanged, some cases, worsened particularly on tasks verbal fluency. Traditional DBS strategies use high frequency gamma for symptoms (∼130 Hz), but there evidence low theta oscillations (5–12 Hz) are important cognition. Methods We tested effects location fluency among patients who underwent STN implantation with externalized leads. During baseline testing, field potentials were recorded individual patients' peak power was identified during each task. Patients repeated testing at five different settings: no stimulation, contact (130 ventral gamma, (peak theta) stimulation. Results Acute left improves overall compared either or Stratifying by type probes, episodic categories improved all other conditions, while differences between conditions non-episodic probe conditions. Conclusion Here, we provide may improve fluency, suggesting potential possibility integrating into current paradigms outcomes.